CarL1 Wilmington Blue Rocks

Owens & Co. Blank Blue Rocks, 1-0

Published on September 10, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Lynchburg, VA - One night after the Lynchburg Hillcats lost in large part thanks to their inability to hit with runners in scoring position, the Wilmington Blue Rocks flat out failed to put runners as far as second or third base during Thursday's 1-0 loss to the Hillkitties. Wilmington went just 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position as it watched the Hillcats pull even in the Carolina League Northern Division Championship Series. Each team has won a game as the best-of-five series shifts to Wilmington for Games Three & Four.

Lynchburg scored the game's lone run in the second inning. Jamie Romak opened the frame with a line-drive single to left. He then scampered to third on Tony Sanchez's single to right. That brought up Matt Hague with runners on the corners and nobody out. The first baseman sent a bouncer to second baseman Johnny Giavotella which resulted in a force at second, but also brought home Romak to give the Hillkitties a 1-0 advantage.

Unfortunately for Wilmington, that was enough for the Lynchburg pitching staff.

Starter Rudy Owens (1-0) tossed six scoreless innings to earn the win. After spending most of the season in Low-A with West Virginia and earning South Atlantic League Most Outstanding Pitcher honors, Owens faced Wilmington for the first time in 2009 during Game Two. The left-hander allowed only four hits and struck out six on his way to three 1-2-3 innings.

His counterpart, Wilmington starter Danny Duffy (0-1), also pitched well, but suffered the hard-luck setback. Duffy actually allowed fewer hits than Owens (three) but the run in the second inning proved to be the difference.

Lynchburg's bullpen came through over the final three frames. Matt McSwain worked a perfect seventh, as the regular-season starter looked quite comfortable in his new role as a reliever.

Then in the eighth, Wilmington got its best chance at evening the game against right-hander Ramon Aguero. Derrick Robinson grounded one past short with two outs and nobody on. The center fielder immediately had eyes on a steal, and he left for second base on the first pitch to the next batter, Giavotella. Sanchez's throw down errantly bounced into center field. Robinson, who had slid head first into second, immediately popped up and began sprinting to third. Center fielder Jose De Los Santos charged in to grab the ball, but he missed the bouncing ball with his glove, giving Robinson a possible opportunity to score. But Robinson was expecting a throw to third and slid head first into the bag trying to beat the throw he thought was on its way. By the time he got back to his feet, De Los Santos had recovered and Robinson was forced to remain at third.

That left the inning in Giavotella's hands, and although the second baseman hit the ball sharply toward center, it hung up long enough for De Los Santos to make the catch.

In the ninth, Clint Robinson did manage a seeing-eye single past second baseman Chase d'Arnaud with one out. But closer Ronald Uviedo settled down from there, retiring Eric Hosmer and Nick Van Stratten consecutively to end the game.

The teams bus to Wilmington's Frawley Stadium for Game Three at 7:05 p.m. on Friday night. The Royals' top pitching prospect according to Baseball America, southpaw Michael Montgomery (4-1, 2.25) gets the ball against lefty Jeff Locke (5-8, 4.59). The Blue Rocks are offering complimentary tickets for local "Heroes in Uniform" and their families for the September 11 contest. All police, fire, EMT, and military personnel will receive four (4) free tickets to the game by showing the appropriate identification at the Frawley Stadium box office. The offer will also be accepted by phone by calling (302) 888-BLUE (2583) and mentioning "Heroes in Uniform." The Blue Rocks plan to honor local firemen, policemen, EMT, and military personnel before the game and encourage fans to wear patriotic gear to the game.

PEBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE (ALL MUST BE UPDATED):

Wilmington suffered a postseason shutout for the eighth time in franchise history. The Rocks' last blanking came in Game Three of the 2008 N.D.C.S. That lost ended Wilmington's season, as it completed a three-game sweep for the Potomac Nationals.

The blanking also marked the 15th time Wilmington was shut out in 2009.

The loss ended a 10-game winning streak for the Rocks over Lynchburg. Wilmington last lost to the Hillcats on July 7, also a one-run game. Overall in 2009, the Rocks have taken 16 of 22 from Lynchburg.

The heart of Wilmington's batting order, Mike Moustakas, Clint Robinson and Eric Hosmer, combined to go just 1-for-11 on the Thursday. The lone hit came in the final inning by Robinson.

Johnny Giavotella was the only man to record a multi-hit game for the Blue Crew. The second baseman went 2-for-4, but he was thrown out trying to stretch his first-inning double into a three-bagger.

Wilmington pitched held the Hillcats to an 0-for-9 showing with runners in scoring position. Including a four-game sweep of the Hillcats in late August, Wilmington pitching has held the cats to a 7-for-57 (.123) total with men in scoring position over the teams' last six meetings.

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Carolina League Stories from September 10, 2009


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